Semaphore switch-stand.



UNITED STATESV PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT K. MANSFILD, OF SALEM, OHIO, AND GEORGE L. MANSFIELD, OF

- PULLMAN, ILLINOIS s EMAPHoR-l; swl'rcl-i-s'rAN D.

M'.SllrlltICAII-ON.formingpart of Letters Patent N o. 717,694, dated January 6, 1903.

'Application tied rb'ruafy 14, iena. sain no. 94,095. ou modem To @ZZ when@ it may concern:

Be itknown that we,ALBEE'r KMANSFIELD,

.of Salem, in the county of ColumbianaJ and State of Ohio, and GEORGE L. MANsE1ELD,of Fullman, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have jointly invented a certain new and useful Improvementin Semaphore Switch- Stands, of which improvement the following is a specification.

Our present invention relates to means for coincidently operating a railroad-switch and a semaphore-signal which indicates to the engineerof an approaching train whether the switch is vin Yopen or in closed position and is an improvement upon constructions for whichLetters Patent of the United States No. 227,372 were granted and issued to Albert K. Mansfield aforesaid under date of May 11, 1880, and. Letters Patent No. 546,172 were granted and issued to Albert K. Mansfield aforesaid and SamuelM. Felton (as assignee of one-half the right) under date of September 10, 1895. l

The object of our invention is to simplify and perfect switch and signal mechanisms of the type above specified by the provision of a switch-standzinand onwhich a switch-ope erating device and a connected semaphore-y signal are contained and mounted, thereby attainingV thejadvantages cf compactness, more certain and positive operation, and reduction of the number and cost of connections as compared with prior constructions in, which the signal is supported'independently of and operated through intermediate connections from a separate switch-stand.

The improvement claimed is Yhereinafterfully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side view in elevation of a semaphore switch-stand embodying our invention; Fig. 2, a vertical central section, on an enlarged scale, through the lower portion of the switchstand; Fig. 3, a vhorizontal section through the same in the axial plane of the shaft of the switch-lever; Fig. 4, a vertical section through the bearing of the signal and the adjoining portion of the supporting-post.

In the practice of our invention we provide a vertical stand or supporting structure, con- 5o sisting of a lower box or casing 1, which supports and partially incloses the switch-operating mechanism and which is preferably a casting, a tubular vertical extension 1a on casing 1, a tubular post 2, which is connected at its lower end to the vertical extension 12L and may be made of eitherwrought or cast metai, as preferred, and an upper signal-support 3, which is connected to the top of the post 2. The stand rests Yupon sills 4: or any 6o 'other suitable foundation and is secured thereto by spikes or bolts engaging lateral flanges 5 on the bottom of the casing 1.

The specific form of switch-operating mechanism which is employed is not the essence of our invention and the same may be varied, in the discretion of the constructor, without depart-ure therefrom. In the instance herein exemplified the movable rails of the switch (which are not shown) are coupled to one end of a connecting rod or link 6, the other end of which is coupled to a pin 7, fixed in a segmental bevelgear S, which is secured upon a vertical shaft 9, journaled in bearings l() in the casing 1, and a bearing 11 in the upper signal-support 3 and extending upwardly through the tubular post 2. The gear 8 meshes with a bevelpinion 12, iixed upon a shaft 13, which is journaled in a bearing 14 in the casing 1 and carries upon its outer end a switch-lever 15, having a weight 16 upon its end. The ratio of the gear 8 and pinion 12 is as two to one, and by moving the switch-lever 15 through a half-revolution of its shaft in one or the other direction the 'switch will be opened or closed,as the case may fixed upon the vertical shaft 9 at the upper' end of the tubular post 2. The ratio of the gear 2O to the pinion 2l is such that the rotation of the shaft 9 through a quarter of a revolution, which, as before explained, is effected by the movement of the switch-lever in throwing the switch, will move the signalshaft 1S and semaphore-signal 17 through an arc of about sixty degrees. The semaphoresignal stands, as in ordinary practice, horizontally when the switch is open and is inclined at an angle of about sixty degrees with a horizontal plane when the switch is closed, as shown in Fig. 1. A counterbalance 22 is preferably fixed upon the signal-shaft and projects therefrom in substantially opposite direction to the semaphore-signal.

As shown in Fig. 4, the signal-shaft 18 extends entirely across the signal-support 3 and is journaled in two bearings, which are located on opposite sides thereof. The vertical shaft 9a is extended upwardly beyond the signal-support in order to carry a signallamp 23, which is provided with a lens 24 on each of its four sides, the opposite lenses corresponding in color, which is dierent as between the two pairs-that is to say, one pair of opposite lenses may be made of red glass and the other pair of white glass. The partial revolution of the vertical shaft 9, resultant upon the movement of the switch-lever, will turn the lamp through an arc of ninety degrees and bring one or the other pair of lenses in the line of vision of the engineer of an approaching train, accordingly as the switch may be opened or closed. The lamp is fixed upon the independent upper section 9 of the shaft 9, said upper section carrying a bevel-pinion 2l, which meshes with the gear 20 of the signal-shaft and corresponds in diameter with the pinion 2l on the lower section or main body 9 of the Vertical shaft. It will be seen that under this construction the lamp will be turned through an arc of ninety degrees in throwing the switch.

It will be obvious that, if desired, the rotating lamp above described may be dispensed with and a fixed lamp suspended from the signal-support 3 be substituted, the indications of. theopen and closed positions of the switch being in such case given at night by a pair olf spectacles or lenses of different-colored glass connected to and movable with the semaphore-signal in the ordinary manner.

As shown in Fig. 1, access to the lamp and signal is afforded by steps 27, projecting from the vertical tubular extension l, which is preferably formed integral with or may, if preferred, be secured to the lower box or casing l of the stand. The tubular post 2 is secured to the top of the extension lfL and the vertical shaft 9 is inclosed within the extension and post.

While we have herein illustrated the transmission of motion from the vertical shaft to the semaphore-signal and lamp as effected through the intermediation of bevel-gearing, our invention is not limited to such specific means, and operative connections of other forms known to those skilled in the art may be substituted without departure from the operative principle of our invention.

We claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A semaphore switch-stand composed of a lower box or casing for a switch-operating device, a tubular Vertical extension fixed to said lower box, a tubular post connected to the top of said extension, and a signal-support connected to the top of the tubular post. 2. In a switch and signal device, the combination of switch-operating means, a lower box or ycasing inclosing the same, a tubular vertical extension fixed to said lower box, a tubular post connected to the top of said extension, a closed gearbox or casing on the upper end of said tubular post, a transverse shaft journaled in said gear-casing, a semaphore exterior to said casing and connected to said shaft, and means operatively connecting the switch-operating means and said transverse shaft.

3. In a switch and signal device, the combination of a vertical tubular switch-stand, switch-operating means mounted in the lower portion of said stand, a closed gear box or casing supported on the upper end of said tubular stand, a transverse shaft journaled in said gear-box with its ends projecting therefrom, a semaphore fixed to one projecting end of said shaft and a counterweight iixed to the other end, and a shaft extending through the tubular stand and operatively connecting the 'switch -operating means to the transverse shaft.

4. In a switch and signal device, the combination of a base consisting of a lower casing and an upwardly-projecting hollow standard secured thereto, a tube supported on said standard, a closed gear-box supported by said tube, switch-operating means in said lower casing, a semaphore supported on the exterior of said gear-box, an'd a shaft extending through said tube and operatively connecting the switch-operating means and said semaphore.

5. In a switch and signal device, the combination of a switch-stand, switch-operating means at the base of said stand, a closed gearbox supported on said stand, a transverse shaft journaled in said gear-box and supporting a semaphore exterior thereto, a signalsupporting shaft journaled in the top of said box, a shaft extending from said switch-operating means into said gear-box, and beveled gearing within said gear-box and connecting the three shafts.

6. A semaphore switch-stand composed of a ground switch box or casing with switch- IOO IIO

IZO

projecting from the top of seid gear-box, a=

shaft extending through the tubular post from the switch-operating means into the gear-box, and a nest of gearing Within said gear-box and connecting the three shafts. ALBERT K. MANSFIELD. GEORGE L. MANSFIELD.

Witnesses as to A. K. Mansfield:

C. B. HUNT, W. G. HARD.

Witnesses as to G. L. Manseld:

.0. E. BROCKHAUSEN,

E. C. LOEVENHART. 

